Device for moving and holding stage carpets



3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. J. GAY. DEVICE PoR MOVING AND HOLDING STAG; GARPBTS.

Patented Dee. 4, 1888.

N' PETERS. Phum-Limngnpner. wnhingwn. I)v C.

(No Model.)

gi/VE 55,55.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

T. J. GAY. DEVICE POR MOVING AND HOLDING STAGEA OARPEIS.

z Patented Dec. 4,. 1888.

W/TNEEEEE. 3M/W, #QMM /NVENTUR- dq n. PETERS Phmmmnompher. wnmngcm D. l:4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS J. GAY, OF LACONIA, NE\V HAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN F. STORY AND SUMNER E. BLACKSTONE, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR MOVING AND HOLDING STAGE-CARPETS'.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 393,754, dated December 4, 1888.

Application filed January 21, 1888. Serial No. 261,445. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern; similar devices back of the drop-curtain and Be it known that I, THOMAS J. GAY, of Lathe chains or ropes to which the hooks arel atconia, in the county of Belknap and State of tached operated by mechanical means, out of New Hampshire, have invented certain new the sight of the audience, to carry the carpet 5 and useful Improvements in Devices forMovup to place near the foot-lights, and there 55 ing and Holding Stage-Carpets, of which the hold it in position or draw it back under the following is a specification. drop-curtain, to be removed.

It is the object of my invention to provide I will now proceed to describe the invenineans whereby a carpet or other tloor-covertion, so thatvothers skilled in the art may be 1o ing may be automatically drawn or carried on able to make and use the invention, reference 6o a stage or rostrum from the rear of the dropbeing had to the accompanying drawings, and curtain, underneath the same, and up to its to the letters of reference marked thereon, place at or near the foot-lights, and there held forming a part of this specification, of which in position when wanted for use, and whereby, drawing vt5 also, the carpet may be automatically drawn Figure l is a top plan view of a square- 65 from in front of the drop-curtain, under and front stage having my invention applied to the rear of the same, as, when duringaperthereto, a square of carpet being shown in formance, it is wanted to change the oorposition and drawn up toward though not covering ofthe stage or employ the bare floor. fully to place at the foot-lights, and a portion 2o lt is wellknown by all those having acquaintof the carpet being represented as cut away 7o ance with stage equipments or paraphernalia to better exhibit the construction of the stage and the giving of theatrical entertainments therebeneath. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view that it is frequently necessary to take up and of Fig. 1. Fig'. 3 is a sectional view on the put down or change the stage-carpet, and that line c a' of Fig. 2. Fig. t is a sectional view 2 5 this thing is often required to be done during on the line 'y fg of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan 7` the performance, and when so necessitated view of a round-front stage equipped with my attendants are called who drag the carpet invention and having a carpet in position under the drop-curtain and forward to the thereon. Fig. 6 is a section on the line s E, foot-lights, where they stretch it over fasten- Fig. 5, showing also slight modifications ofthe 3o ings, or loose the carpet from its yfastenings at invention. 8o

the foot-lights and drag it back under the The same letters of reference designate the drop-curtain. This work is attended with the same part-s in all of the views. consumption of a not inconsiderable amount In the drawings, let a designate the Hoor of time, and frequently with accidents, owing of a stage, rostrum, or platform, which may 3 5 to the small amount of space between the forhave a stra-ight front, as shown in Fig. l, or 85 ward edge of the carpet and the foot-lights, the front may be rounded or bowed, as repreupon which space the attendant is obliged to y sented in Fig. 5. A work in stretching and fastening the carpet. i Having reference to Figs. l to l, inclusive, Again, this common manner of putting down, b designates a shaft journaled in suitable 4o taking' up, and changing the stage-carpet not bearings fixed to the under side of the iioor 9o infrequently mars or interrupts the perform a, near the front thereof, on which shaft, at ance. suitable intervals, are secured sprocket- By my invention the difficulties and disadwheels c, around which and similar wheels vantages mentioned are overcome, said invenor pulleys, d, secured to a shaft, c, arranged 45 tion consisting of chains, cords, or ropes profarther back on the under side of the floor, 9 5 vided with hooks or similar devices adapted pass chains j', provided at proper points with to be attached to the edge of the carpet, comhooks f", which extend barely through slots bined with suitable means for supporting and h in the floor o, so that they may be enoperating the chains, cords, or ropes, so that gaged with rings, eyes, or similar devices, i, 5o the carpet may be attached to the hooks or secured to or formed in the forward edge of 10o the carpetj, which may be secured at its rear edge and sides, as at 71, to the stage-floor. On one end ot' the shaft l) is secured a bevelpinion, which is engaged with a like bevelpinion, m, on the vertical shal't 11, provided on its upper end with a hand-wheel, o, whereby the shat't may be rotated so as to move chainsfand their attached hooks (1, and carry or draw the forward edge of thel carpet Pj backward or `forward any distance within the limits ot' the slots h.

It is obvious that any other suitable means l'or rotating shatt l) may be employed in place ot' that shown, the means made use of t'or the purpose depending upon the circumstances and conveniences ot' each case, and so changes maybe made in the t'orm and arrangement ot' other parts ot' the invention; for example, instead ot havingthe wheels or pulleys mounted on the shatt c, each ot' said pulleys may be made independent ot the others in its supporting means aud the shatt c dispensed with.

'l`o prevent the carpet dj t'rom becomingdisengaged trom the hooks g, l provide the latter with spring-tongues p, which permit ot' the ready engagement ot' the rings or eyes 1' and prevent them t'rombecoming accidentally disconnected therefrom in moving the carpet back and t'orth nnderthe drop-curt ain, which may be supposed to have position ahmg the line q.

'l`hc chains j' may be :I rrangcd so that. the upper port ion moving between the two wheels or pulleys c d shall pass through a way, r, t'ormed between the two layers ot' boards comprising the iiooring ot' the stage, as shown in Figs. 3, t, and G; or said portions of the chains may be made to move entirely underneath the floor and pass through any cross-timbers that may be in the way.

ln some instances the position ot the slnfoclct et-wheels c and their rotary shaft and the wheels or pulleys d may lbe cl1anged-that is, the rotary shatt l) and its attached sproeketwheels may be secured to the under side of the stage-Hoor to the rear of the drop-curtain q and the wheels or pulleys d near to or under the toot-lights s, as represented in Figs. 5 and t5- this construction and arrangement otl parts being desiral le,i t` not essentiahwhere the front ot`the stage is roundingor bowed, as shown in Fig. 5, in which case the size oli the sprocketwheels c may be varied, or the hooks y arranged on the chains f at di tterent points considered with regard to the line of the dropcurtiain, in order that when the carpet is drawn taut along the toot-lights s all portions of the y same will be under the same degree of tension, or, in other words, the carpet will be properly stretched over the tioor (i.

Instead ot employing chains to which the hooks f/ are secured, cords or ropes may bc employed, as shown in Fig. t5.

The operation ot' myinvention will now be understood without much, it' any, further description. Supposing the drop-curtain to be down and that it is desired to stretch and secure a carpet on the tioor, the sha'tt Y) will be rotated so as to bring the hooks g/ on the chains to the rear ot' the curtain, when the carpet will be secured to the tloor at 7i: and attached at its forward edge to the hooks y of the chain, and by the rotation of shaft I) in the proper direction the carpet will be drawn under the drop-curtain to ortoward the t'oot-light's,where it may be held by locking shat't against rotation by any suitable means. To take up or remove the carpet when the drop-curtain is down, the shatt will be rotated in a direction opposite to that in which it was moved when the carpet was stretched or spread in place, which (mei-ation will draw the torward edge ot' the carpet under the drop-curl ain to the rcar ot' the same, where it may be taken up and removed by attendants entirely out of sight ot' the audience.

llavingthus described my invent ion,what l claim isl. The stage-floor provided with slots or grooves, combined with movable cords, ropes, or chains provid ed with hooks extending into or through the slots or grooves in the Hoor, whereby a carpet may be attached to the hooks and moved from place to place and held in position on the Iloor, substantially as set forth.

2. The stage-Hooi.l combined with chains, cords, or ropes provided with hooks adapted to engage the edge of a carpet, a rotary shaft, sprocket-wheels on said shaft over which said chain, cords, or ropes pass, and additional wheels or pulleys for supporting and guiding the chain, as set forth.

2i. The stage-Hoor provided with slots or grooves, combined with a rotary shaft', b,pro vided with a spr0cket-wheel, e, a wheel or pulley, d, and a chain, cord, or rope, f, provided with a hook, g, extending into said slot in the tloor, as set forth.

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specitication, in the presence of two subscribin witnesses, this 16th day of January, A. D. 1883.

THOMAS J. GAY.

\\it nesses:

STEPHEN J Ewii'rr, J Aims 1I. STORY.

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